Winemaker Notes
After more than a decade of growing Riesling on the Scribe Estate, they have come to understand how to balance this noble grape's sometimes generous spirit and capture its higher tones and fresh characteristics. Their Riesling is dry – with 0.0 grams of residual sugar – which gives center stage to the pleasures of its unique minerality and evocative floral and stone fruit aromatics. This wine is alive and humming with vibrant acidity and deeply perfumed in the uniquely delicate way only Riesling can be.
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.